“You’re not driving the boat,” S’samph grumbled. If her skills with a levibike were anything to indicate, she would be even more of a menace behind the wheel of a boat. This, however, only piqued his mate’s interest.
“I want to try at least once,” she said. And S’samph could tell she wasn’t going to relinquish the idea easily.
“You’re going to get us both drowned.”
“I know how to swim, don’t you?”
“Standard military training on Latilla included survival swimming certification.”
“You could just say yes,” Eleri rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m a very good swimmer,” S’samph clarified. “Better than just knowing how to swim. But the waters are high and unpredictable in the rain, and I don’t want to have to pull you out of the canal even if you think you can swim.”
“I bet K’kaen would let me drive his boat,” Eleri said, glancing back at him as she made her way toward the door. S’samph hurried after her, considering that perhaps asking K’kaen to be her brother had been a mistake after all. But he was pleased with her levity in general. Ever since the situation with Myla and Minio had mostly resolved, his mate had seemed lighter. Whatever it took to bring her continued joy, he would devote the rest of his life to doing. Even if it meant letting her drive the boat. Just once.
EPILOGUE
Eleri
The flooding ended, leaving Laurus surprisingly green. S’samph had hardly let her out of his sight for long enough to plan their mating ceremony, but S’kasia had made it clear he could either listen to them plan the event or sit outside in his boat. Yet, despite all the planning that had gone into it, everything felt strange as Eleri stood on one side of a leaping bonfire. S’samph held her mating bands as he stared at her from the other side of the rising flames.
S'kasia had exchanged her daily orange priestess’s robes for a traditional set of ceremonial green, while Eleri wore a heavily embellished version of the dress she’d scrapped to make bandages after S’samph’s encounter with the raviks. It was wholly impractical and cost a wild amount of credits, more than she would have ever dreamed of spending on a dress she’d probably only wear once. They’d gone so far as to import it all the way from Brasnia Prime. However, S’samph had insisted, and once her mate got an idea in his head, there was little she could do to deter him.
K’kaen stood at her side, a far better brother than the one she’d left behind. His tail flicked in amusement as she glanced up at him. “Are you sure this is safe?” she asked.
“Not at all. I’ve never done it myself, but somehow our ancestors have survived this ritual without too much damage for a few millennia.” K’kaen glanced over at S’samph, who was pacing impatiently behind the wall of fire. “I mean no great loss if he gets a little toasted. I’ve got a cousin who might be interested in coming to Laurus if you’re still interested in having a latil’e mate.”
“Very funny,” Eleri said.
“Of course, I am.”
“Are you going to let me get started?” S’kasia interrupted them. She raised her ceremonial staff that had been decorated with some of S’samph’s most recent molt and a few braided tendrils of Eleri’s hair. K’kaen gave a lazy flick of his tail, mostly meant to annoy S’kasia. Eleri knew the two of them were romantically involved somehow, but S’kasiahad no intention of taking another mate after what had happened back on Latilla.
“I’m ready,” Eleri said.
“Then let us begin.” S’kasia struck the ground with her staff. “S’samph born of S’kyra’s third clutch, you have been chosen by Eleri, human of Gaia, as her mate. If you accept her claim, you will prove yourself by crossing the flames to present her with your mating bands.”
“I accept her claim.” S’samph kept the bands clutched close as he stepped toward the threshold of the flames. Eleri held her breath for the crossing. Even though she knew latil’e were mostly flame resistant, it was still a harrowing sight to behold. Flames licked up the hem of his ceremonial robe and curved prettily along the scales on his legs. Eleri winced, but his face was placid. Finally, he emerged on the other side in front of her with his clothing smoldering. K’kaen reached over to cover the flames with a heavy cloth until they quenched, leaving only a haze of smoke behind.
“Step aside.” S’samph waved a hand at S’kasia, who had come to stand in front of Eleri.
“And why should I let you mate my sister? What can you offer her? She who already has everything cannot possibly need a male at her side.” The frill around S’kasia’s neck rose in a mimicry of aggression as they went through the pageantry of a latil’e mating ceremony.
“It is true, I am less than unworthy, but I will make my offering all the same.”
“What do you offer me, warrior?” Eleri asked, stepping forward past S’kasia as she’d been instructed. “I want only the best for myself and my future clutches.”
“I would not insult you with less than the best.” S’samph drew himself up with utmost sincerity as he met her eyes. “Eleri of Gaia I offer you my loyalty, honesty, and protection.”
“You insult my sister with such paltry offerings.” S’kasia stamped the bottom of her staff on the ground.
“Is that all you have to offer?” Eleri asked.
“I offer you my hands to build you a nest, my tail to please you, and my body to shelter you.”
“Do better, warrior,” K’kaen intoned.
S’samph’s tail twitched once in a motion that Eleri had come to recognize as nerves. “Then I have one final thing to offer. I offer you my spirit in its completeness that you might never feel alone andthat you might never know dishonor.”
